Drum beater



May 16, 1933.

L. B. GREENIREAF DRUM BEATER Filed Sept. 22, 1932 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LELAND B. GREENLEAF, F ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO C. G. CONN, LTD., O ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA DRUM BEATER Application led September 22, 1932. Serial No. 634,377.

Thisinvention relates to drum beaters, and particularly to bass drum beaters.

An obj ect of the invention is to provide 1mproved means for retracting the drum beater 5 of drum beating mechanism.

Another object is to provide improved adj ustable means for retracting the drum beater of drum beater mechanism.

Other and more speciiic objects of the 1nl Vention are disclosed and described -here1n The preferred embodiment of my 1nvent1on is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of the drum beater mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end View thereof; U

Fig. 3 is a fra mental side elevational view of the rock-sha t retracting mechanlsm, and other associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental transverse View similar to Fig. 2, but enlarged, showing the rockshaft, adjustable stud for the beater retracting devices, and other associated parts; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring now to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates the conventional type of drum beater mounted upon the beater bar 2 which is supported by the rock-shaft 3, the latter having its opposite ends carried by the spaced upright columns 4 and 5 by the bearing means hereinafter described. The rock-shaft bearing columns 4 and 5 are mounted upon a suitable base member 6 which may be cast integral with said columns.

The numeral 7 indicates a rock-shaft actuating arm projecting outward and radially beater bar 2 is adjustably secured by a set screw 9. The numeral 1() indicates a foot pedal for actuating the rock-shaft 3 and thereby the beater 1, said pedal being hinged I to a heel plate 11 at 12, the opposite end of 50 said pedal being operatively connected with the arm 7 by a link 13 which is pivotally connected with both of said members. A connector plate 14 may unite the heel plate 11 with the column base 6to effect a unit thereof with the pedal 10 and associated parts.

The rock-shaft 3 is carried upon anti-friction self lubricating bearings at both ends thereof, and since the same details of construction are incorporated in both bearings a description of one of the bearings will suiiice. The numeral 15 indicates a shaft bearing screw which is screw threaded at 16 through the upper end of the column 5 and axially of the shaft 3, said bearing screw being provided with a reduced cylindrical end 17 which eX- tends into the cylindrical bore 18 formed in the end of said shaft.

To eliminate friction there is slight clearance between the end 17 of the bearing screw 15 and the shaft bore 18, said bore 18Y ter1ninating at its inner end in a conical ball recess 19 which coacts with a corresponding ball recess 20 formed in the end of the screw end 17 and a ball 21 which is mounted theren between to provide an anti-friction bearing. The outer end of the screw 15 may be provided with a tool slot 22 to effect adjustment thereof into the proper relation with the ball 21, and a lock or jamb nut 23 may be threaded on the exterior of the bearing screw 15 to maintain the adjustment thereof.

The numeral 24 indicates a lubricant wick chamber or recess formed aXially in the screw 15 and within which an absorbent wick 25 is arranged, the outer end of said wick contacting with the ball 21, whereby, when said wick is saturated with suitable lubricant, the ball 21 and the ball recesses 19 and 2O are supplied with lubricant. automatically.

The means for retracting the rock-shaft 3, and thereby the drum beater 1, comprises generally the exteriorly threaded, upright stud 26 slidably arranged in a cylindrical hole 27 which pierces the shaft 3 adjacent one end thereof; the screw adjusting nut 28 which is threaded upon the upper end of the stud 26 and against the flat seat 35 which is provided on the upper surface of the shaft 3; and a coil tension spring 29 which is operatively connected with the lower end of the stud 26 by a link 30, the oppositeend of said spring being suitably anchored in the base lnember 6 at 31. To prevent rotation ofthe adjusting stud 26 and to enable rectilinear movement thereof by the nut 26 for regufor actuating said stud to regulate the spring tension. i

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rock-shaft, a drum beater mounted thereon, and devices for rocking said shaft, of means for retracting said shaft and drum beater after actuation thereof, said means comprising a stud slidably adjustable upon said shaft and longitudinally flattened on one side thereof, adjustable means4 engaging v the Y flattened side` of said stud to` prevent'rotaton .of thelatter, and a tension spring connected with said stud.

LELAND B. GREENLEAF.

lating the tension of the retracting springA 29, said stud is longitudinally iattenedonl one side thereof at 32, said flattened stud surface being engaged lightly by the point of a stop screw 33 which is screwed into a hole 34 formed in the side of the shaft.-

From the foregoing it will be evident that the rotation ofthe nut 28 readily effects rectilinear movement of the stud 26,'whereby the tension of the spring 29 may be regulated at will. 5 1

I claim:

1. In a device ofthe character described, the combination with a drum beater mounted upon a rock-shaft and means for rocking said shaft, of means for retracting said shaft f' z i and drum beater after'actuation thereof, said means comprising a stud adjustably mounted in said shaft, and a tension spring connected with said stud.

2. In a device of the characterdeslcribed, 1

the combination with arock-shaft,.a drum beater mounted upon said Vrock-shaft, and pedal and link devices for rocking saidl shaft, of means for reti-acting said shaftv and drum beater after pedal actuation thereof, said means comprising a stud slidably adjustable upon said'rock-shaft,means to prevent rotation of said stud, and a tension spring connected with said stud.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rock-shaft, a drum beater carried by said rock-shaft, and pedal and link devices for rocking said shaft, of means for retracting said vshaft and drum beater after pedal actuation thereof, said means comprising a member carried upon said shaft and movably adjustablev thereon,

and a tension spring lconnected with said adjustable member.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rock-shaft, a drum beater carried by said rock-shaft, and pedal and link devices for rocking said Shaft, of

means for retracting said shaft andy drum beater after pedal actuation thereof, said means comprising a slidably adjustable stud mounted in said rock-shaft, a tension spring Y Y. connected with said stud, andscrew means j 

